Here is a piece of advice for Indians wanting to work in or with European business circles:

Language

"You will find that there are differences in structure and usage between Indian English and "European business English".

The structure of sentences is a little different. The adjectives often come after the noun.

Take these differences in stride, and try to adapt your style of speaking and writing to the people you're doing business with. It is much more effective to communicate in the way the majority of people are comfortable with than to try to change things to the style you may be more used to."

The advice given to Indians is the sort of thing I was trying to get across in the thread "Whose property?" It seems it is acceptable for Indians to give each other "cultural" advice, but not for non-Indians to do so.

I was mystified by the statement: The adjectives often come after the noun. What do you think he means?

Please speak SLOWLY when calling business partners in Europe and the US. Most people I know have a hard time understanding people from India. Sometimes it took me more than ten seconds to figure out they were actually speaking English.

To be fair, a lot of people say that British people speak too quickly too...I know I have to slow down when I'm speaking to certain people I know who are not English. Even my boyfriend loses track sometimes when I rabbit on at my normal speed.

Please speak SLOWLY when calling business partners in Europe and the US. Most people I know have a hard time understanding people from India. Sometimes it took me more than ten seconds to figure out they were actually speaking English.

I get the similar "complaints" from my Spanish, Mexican, French, Indian, Chinese and Japanese students regarding the fast speech of most American English speakers.